The Mother Of All Baby Coincidences

This week's cover photo is of an adorable Hispanic baby wrapped in an American flag, a striking image that accompanies a story on how many Hispanics delivered by midwives along the border are having trouble as adults getting a passport.

As it turns out, however, there is a story behind the baby that no one at the Press knew about until after the issue hit the stands.

Art Director Monica Fuentes sent out an internal email here at the paper looking for someone who knew a cute Hispanic baby to photograph. A staffer put her in touch with Annalisa Lamas, mother to baby Santiago Lamas. Next thing you know, we've got our cover.

What we didn't know at the time was that little Santiago and his family were directly related to the story.

Turns out Santiago's father was delivered by a midwife along the border and had trouble getting his passport after he applied for one recently. What's more, his midwife was Fermina Flores, mother to Mary Saldano of Brownsville, who is profiled in this week's story.

But wait, it gets better.

Flores is also Santiago's great-great aunt.

"I was so shocked," says Annalisa Lamas. "Isn't it amazing? It's just such a small world. And such a coincidence that the baby would be so connected to the story."